Ion exchange device and method of using same

An ion exchange device comprising, at an upper part, an anion exchange tank in which an anion-exchange resin is packed, and at a lower part, a cation exchange tank in which a cation-exchange resin is packed, wherein:

• the anion exchange tank and the cation exchange tank each independently have an outer shell that is constituted by end plates having an outwardly convex shape that are provided at an upper portion and a lower portion and also by a support body of an ion exchange tank side portion, and comprise an upper chamber, a resin-packed chamber and a lower chamber which are partitioned from each other by two upper and lower flat plates;
• and
• the anion exchange tank and the cation exchange tank are allowed to communicate by communication means provided outside of the anion exchange tank and the cation exchange tank;
• the ion exchange device further comprising a supply/discharge pipe for supplying or discharging a liquid to or from the upper portion of the anion exchange tank, and a supply/discharge pipe for supplying or discharging a liquid to or from the lower portion of the cation exchange tank;
• the communication means comprising:
• a first communication pipe for supplying/discharging a liquid to/from the lower portion of the anion exchange tank,
• a second communication pipe for supplying/discharging a liquid to/from the upper portion of the cation exchange tank,
• a third communication pipe that allows the first communication pipe and the second communication pipe to communicate,
• opening/closing means for opening/closing the third communication pipe, and
• supply/discharge means for supplying/discharging a regenerant solution, that is provided in each of the first communication pipe and the second communication pipe;
• wherein:
• a water collection/distribution member that allows water to pass therethrough and prevents passage of an ion-exchange resin is disposed in the flat plate, and
• the supply/discharge pipe at the upper portion of the anion exchange tank, the first communication pipe, the second communication pipe and the supply/discharge pipe at the lower portion of the cation exchange tank communicate with end plates provided at the upper portion and the lower portion of the anion exchange tank and the cation exchange tank, respectively.